Species

Chiloglottis trapeziformis

Common Name(s)

Dainty Bird Orchid, Ant Orchid

Current Conservation Status

2012 - Non Resident Native - Vagrant

Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2012 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2009 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, Paul D. Champion, Shannel P. Courtney, Peter B. Heenan, John W. Barkla, Ewen K. Cameron, David A. Norton and Rodney A. Hitchmough. File size: 792KB

Previous Conservation Status

Qualifiers

Authority

Chiloglottis trapeziformis Fitzg.

Family

Orchidaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

Structural Class

Orchids

Synonyms

Myrmechila trapeziformis (Fitzg.) D.L.Jones et M.A.Clem

Distribution

Indigenous. North Island. Formerly known from pine forest near Hokio Beach, Levin, on the Horowhenua Coast. That population was destroyed following logging. However, plants were rescued and planted nearby by people skilled in orchid management.

Habitat

Known naturally in New Zealand from a coastal pine plantation near Hokio, Levin where it was discovered in 2001. Here it grew in several patches in dense drifts of semi-rotted pine needles. This population was destroyed in 2003 by logging. it is now regarded as extinct there. Plants were moved to other parts of the country - their exact fate is unknown.

Similar Taxa

Chiloglottis formicifera is similar but can be distinguished by the undulating leaf margins, shorter and larger flowers, and labellum which is more heavily ornamented with calli, with the central cluster having a remarkable resemblance to an ant. Chiloglottis cornuta could be confused though its flowers are borne on much shorter peduncles (often immersed within the foliage), and it has a greenish flower with deltoid rather than rhomboid labellum, and well spaced, rather closely packed and clustered stalked rather than sessile calli.

Flowering

July-December

Flower Colours

Brown,Green

Fruiting

November - February (rarely produced in New Zealand)

Propagation Technique

Easily grown in a moist, well drained, gritty soil freely mulched with semi-rotted pine needles and bark. Prefers semi-shade. An attractive species whose flowers with their remarkable ant-like calli are most unusual within the New Zealand orchid Flora.

Threats

By 2003 there were no natural populations of this species left in New Zealand. The only known population was destroyed because the site it had appeared in was a privately owned pine forest due to be logged. This species is abundant in Australia. It has been planted by New Zealand Native Orchid Group members in several North Island locations. The fate of these plantings is as yet unknown. This species does not readily set seed in New Zealand because its insect-pollination vector is apparently absent.

Chromosome No.

2n = c.40

Endemic Taxon

No

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

Where To Buy

Not commercially available

Taxonomic notes

Chiloglottis trapeziformis (as Myrmechila trapeziformis) was formally admitted to the New Zealand flora by de Lange et al. (2007) based on a population discovered near Hokio, Levin. Recently (Miller & Clements 2014) have treated the segregate genera Myrmechila and Simpliglottis proposed by Szlachekto (2001) and Jones & Clements (2005) as synonyms of Chiloglottis.

Attribution

Fact Sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange 14 April 2007: Description from de Lange et al. (2007).